Hi. I’m Pat. If you read Illinois Times often, you’ve probably seen my byline as Patrick Yeagle. The only reason I go by “Patrick” instead of just “Pat” is that there’s a middle-aged woman in Wisconsin with the same name. I know this because Facebook keeps suggesting I become her friend, and I’m all like […]
Patrick Yeagle
Patrick Yeagle started writing for Illinois Times in September 2009. Originally from Farmer City, Ill., he graduated from Northern Illinois University in 2008 with a bachelor's degree in political science and a second major in journalism. He then graduated from the University of Illinois-Springfield in 2009 with a Master's degree from the Public Affairs Reporting program. In addition to Illinois Times, his work has appeared in the Chicago Tribune, the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, the Peoria Journal-Star, the Northern Star, the Parkland Prospectus and other publications. Yeagle writes about state government, the environment, energy, healthcare, elections, education, community issues, and more. He enjoys taking photos of news events, cityscapes, very small objects and wildlife. He enjoys running and has completed a marathon, three half-marathons, a 198-mile relay race and several shorter races. Other hobbies include cooking, gardening, making music and outdoor activities.
Posted inNews
Smart on crime
Each year, Illinois spends about $1.3 billion to lock up more than 48,000 prisoners. Nearly half of those who are released return to prison within three years. Parolees in Illinois face significant barriers to getting jobs, finding housing and even obtaining health care, which vastly increases their likelihood of committing new crimes. By all accounts, […]
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Reducing the rape kit testing backlog
Rosa Pickett (right), of Robbins, Illinois, shared her experience with rape at the Illinois Statehouse in May, advocating for HB369 with her mother, Velma Pickett (left). PHOTO BY PATRICK YEAGLE Rosa Pickett’s eyes still well up with tears as she describes how, in 1977, she was raped, beaten unconscious and left in the weeds as […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Summer fun means a ride and a run
Capital City Biathlon 2014. PHOTOS COURTESY THE HARDY BREED Springfield is quickly becoming a hot spot for cool races. Whether you’re looking for a hardcore challenge or just something to keep you from languishing on the couch all summer, there’s likely a race in or near Springfield matching your intensity level. Pick a race from […]
Posted inNews
Energy’s fight for power
Clinton Power Station. PHOTO BY DANIEL SCHWEN UPDATE: The story has been updated to include a rebuttal by Exelon to a claim made by Kraft. The updated portion is in blue text. There’s a war raging over Illinois’ energy future, pitting nuclear power against renewable resources. The winner will determine how Illinois generates electricity for […]
Posted inNews
Cahnman engaged in misconduct, panel finds
A state panel has concluded that attorney and former Ward 5 alderman Sam Cahnman engaged in misconduct by having a conflict of interest as a lawyer-legislator. Cahnman, who served two terms as alderman before losing his bid for a third term in April, could face punishment ranging from censure to disbarment. The case stems from […]
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The rise and fall of Cahokia
Monks Mound is the largest remaining mound at Cahokia, near Collinsville. Photo by Tim Vickers. Nearly 1,000 years ago, a bustling city sprouted in southern Illinois. As many as 20,000 people lived in this six-square-mile metropolis located near modern St. Louis around the year 1050, but then the civilization simply disappeared. Now, one team of […]
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Crowdfunding for businesses
It’s usually associated with making movies, recording music or creating a new product, but the Internet phenomenon known as “crowdfunding” could soon apply to small business investments in Illinois. State lawmakers are considering a bill to allow small companies to informally issue stocks, following a bipartisan federal law that lifted a decades-old ban on such […]
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Battling rape on campus
Polly Poskin, executive director of the Springfield-based Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault, hopes to see schools respond more compassionately toward rape victims. Photo BY PATRICK YEAGLE Julia Dixon only knew her attacker a few hours before her exciting new college experience became a nightmare. It was her second weekend at college, and Dixon, then age […]
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Morals in medicine
Mindy Swank of Chicago grew up in a conservative household – both religiously and politically – so when her pregnancy went wrong, it was a difficult decision to have an abortion. She and her husband, Adam, were excited to have their second child, she told an Illinois Senate legislative panel at the Capitol in March, […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Aftermath of an assassination
Even before he ascended to the White House, Abraham Lincoln was often referred to as “old.” It wasn’t an insult but a compliment. Michael Burlingame “He radiated the qualities of wisdom and nurturing,” said Dr. Michael Burlingame, a noted Lincoln author and professor of history at the University of Illinois Springfield. “He had several positive […]
Posted inNews
Shaping school discipline
Public schools in Illinois would have to reform their discipline policies under legislation being considered in the Illinois General Assembly. The bill aims to limit how long students are removed from the classroom, and it comes as schools and lawmakers examine the effects of suspensions and expulsions on a student’s educational performance. However, many of […]
